Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating and/or diagnosing a patient's eye. A light source produces fixation light and procedure light. A scanning device deflects the fixation light to produce a fixation pattern of the fixation light on the eye, and deflects the procedure light to produce a procedure pattern of the procedure light on the eye. A controller controls the scanning device such that the fixation and procedure patterns move relative to each other, and/or the fixation pattern dynamically changes.

Abstract: An optical device and method for varying an optical characteristic of an optical beam can include a plurality of optical fibers each having an input end, an output end, and a core, wherein each of the optical fibers has an effective area and a numerical aperture, and a beam deviating component for moving at least one of the optical fiber input ends and the optical beam relative to each other such that the optical beam selectively enters the input ends one at a time and is transmitted out the output ends one at a time, wherein at least one of the effective areas and the numerical apertures varies among the plurality of optical fibers such that the optical beam transmitted out of the output ends has a varying optical characteristic.

Abstract: An optical switch incorporated in a photomedical system, and a method of treating tissue using the optical switch for creating pulsed light. A light source generates an optical beam. An aperture element includes a light-transmitting portion and a light-blocking portion. An optical element such as a mirror, prism or lens directs the optical beam to the aperture element, wherein the optical element is movable for translating the optical beam across the light-transmitting and light-blocking portions of the aperture element, or changing its angle of incidence through the aperture to produce one or more pulses of light from the optical beam. A lens focuses the one or more pulses of the optical beam onto target tissue. A controller controls the movement of the optical element to produce the one or more pulses of light.

Abstract: System and method for generating patterns P of aiming and treatment light on target eye tissue (e.g. the retina) of a patient's eye. The system includes light sources for treatment and aiming light, a scanner for generating patterns of spots of the generated light, a controller, and a graphic user interface that allows the user to select one of several possible spot patterns, adjust the spot density and/or spot size, and apply patterns with fixed or varied density. The patterns can be formed of interlaced sub-patterns and/or scanned without adjacent spots being consecutively formed to reduce localized heating. Partially or fully enclosed exclusion zones within the patterns protect sensitive target tissue from exposure to the light.

Abstract: A photomedical system and method for treating and/or diagnosing a patient's eye that includes a first light source for producing light, a scanning device for deflecting the light to produce a pattern of the light on the eye, a viewing element positioned to view the eye by a user or physician, and an alignment element aligned to the viewing element and the scanning device for optically indicating through the viewing element a location on the eye on which the pattern of the light will be located, but without projecting any alignment light onto the eye.

Abstract: Optical scanning system and method for performing therapy on trabecular meshwork of a patient's eye, including a light source for producing alignment and therapeutic light, a scanning device for deflecting the alignment and therapeutic light to produce an alignment therapeutic patterns of the alignment and therapeutic light, and an ophthalmic lens assembly for placement over a patient's eye that includes a reflective optical element for reflecting the light patterns onto the trabecular meshwork of the patient's eye. The reflective optical element can be a continuous annular mirror (e.g. smooth or with multiple facets) to image the entire trabecular meshwork, or a reflective optical element that moves in coordination with the deflection of the beam. Visualization of the alignment and therapeutic patterns of light on the eye can be implemented by reflection thereof off a visualization mirror that transmits a portion of light emanating from the trabecular meshwork.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating and/or diagnosing a patient's eye. A light source produces fixation light and procedure (treatment and/or diagnosis) light. A scanning device deflects the fixation light to produce a fixation pattern of the fixation light on the eye, and deflects the procedure light to produce a procedure pattern of the procedure light on the eye. A controller controls the scanning device such that the fixation and procedure patterns move relative to each other, and/or the fixation pattern dynamically changes.